Ex-teacher to run for council

Retired high school teacher Rick Wiedenhoeft is the latest to file his nomination to run for town council in the November election, bringing the number of those in the running to eight.
“Fort Frances has always been good to me and my family. I thought this would a good opportunity to back a little bit,” said the Fort High phys. ed. teacher of 30 years.
“I retired a year ago and I need something to keep me going—I’m a ‘Type A’ personality,” added Wiedenhoeft. “I’ve got the time, I’ve got the energy, and it’s something I want to do for the community.”^He said his experience in education and athletics is an asset as he’s come into contact with many local residents, whether they were students or parents at the time, during his years at Fort High.
“I’m a people person, and I see that as an important aspect of being a councillor,” Wiedenhoeft remarked.
If elected, Wiedenhoeft said he’ll tackle the issues as they come before council, but noted he’s steadfast on at least one point.
“I think we have to maintain our services to the residents, our infrastructure,” he stressed. “If we don’t maintain what we have now, it will end up costing our children, and our grandchildren, a lot more in the future.”^Wiedenhoeft joins Bud Edwards, John Albanese, Tannis Drysdale, and Todd Hamilton, along with incumbents Struchan Gilson, Roy Avis, and Sharon Tibbs, in the race to see who will be on the new council.
Coun. Neil Kabel has said he definitely will run again, but has not filed yet. Only Coun. Dave Bourgeault has said he will not seek re-election in November.
Coun. Deane Cunningham filed his nomination papers for the position of mayor several weeks ago.
He is joined by Dan Onichuk, who officially declared his candidacy shortly after Mayor Glenn Witherspoon announced in July that he would not be seeking a fifthstraight term at the helm.
As far as school board trustees go, incumbents Gord McBride and Dan Belluz both have filed to run for the Rainy River District School Board again while incumbent Harold Huntley will seek re-election to the Northwest Catholic District School Board.
Anyone interested in running for mayor or council must file their nomination papers with Clerk Glenn Treftlin at the Civic Centre prior to 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26.
Election day is Nov. 10. Canada Post is expected to send out the mail-in ballots to town residents in October.
Local residents can now find preliminary lists of electors posted at the Civic Centre, museum, and public library until 8 p.m. on Nov.
10.
Treftlin stressed voters should check these lists to find out if their address is correct, and whether they’re designated to vote for public or separate school board trustees.
“If they want to be sure they’ll receive the correct mail-in ballot package, and be able to vote, they should check the list,” Treftlin had noted previously.